Siúlóid Abhainn an Chlocháin Léith The Dungloe River Walk

Welcome to the Dungloe River Walk and Cope ‘Mountain’ Loop. As you enter, to the right are the remains of the sluice gates for the Mill Race which used to power the Mill at the pier in Dungloe. The Templecrone Co-op (the ‘Cope’) provided electricity to the town of Dungloe from the Mill for over 30 years until the ESB took over in the mid-1950s.

The trail meanders by the river, passing reed beds and overhanging trees, both of which are rich habitats for wildlife, particularly birds. The trail bears left to join ‘Mountain’ loop, passing the low-lying Long Lake on the way to Dungloe Lake. Attractive stands of deciduous trees screen a small forestry plantation all around the loop. Dungloe Lake is part of the popular Rosses Fishery; the river, lake and the connected Craghy Lough (locally called Tully) are all very good for sea trout. There are a number of small, wooded islands on the lake: Flat Island, almost close enough to the trail to touch; directly behind, Fern and Black Islands; the Brush Islands are at the mouth of the river; and the largest, Wren Island looks east towards the hills. The walk follows the western edge of the lake with distant views to the picturesque highlands of Thorr in the southern reaches of .

At the bridge, you can either return to your start point or, alternatively, cross over the bridge and follow the trail through the avenue of tall, established trees to the Carnmore Road exit and then complete the walk to your starting point by road. You are here The people of Dungloe are most grateful to Pat the Cope Gallagher who has given his permission for the walk to be created on the family’s lands, called Cope ‘Mountain’.

The Irish for Dungloe is An Clochán Liath, the grey stepping stones, which formed the river crossing before the bridge was built, in the centre of what was to become Dungloe, in 1760-62.

Trail Information Trail Start/Finish: Remembrance Garden Distance/Time to complete: 2.1km & 1.6km/ ca.45-60 minutes (including Pat the Cope mountain walk) Terrain: Purpose built path and footpath total Climb: 15m Format: Looped walk Degree of Difculty: Multi access - Flat smooth trail, suitable for all users including people with reduced mobility, wheelchair users, using crutches, with a buggy, with small children, older people and so on. Suitable for all levels of ftness. Minimum Gear: Noraml outdoor and rain gear As Gaeilge English Marking: River Walk - Red Arrows / Pat the Cope mountain walk - Green Siúlóid Abhainn an Chlocháin Léith An Min Mhór Meenmore, the large plain or fat land arrows. The Dungloe River Walk and Cope ‘Mountain’ Loop. An Siúlóid Walk or Trail Grid ref: B770117 Map: OSI Discovery Series Sheets 1 An Abhainn River, same word as Avon in English See also: www.therosses.ie, www.irishtrails.ie The old name for Dungloe was Cloghanlea, An Clochán Siúlóid Abhainn River Walk or River Trail www.letswalkdonegal.com, www.discoverireland.ie/walking Liath, the grey stepping stones, a place where the river An Tulach (na Gréine) Tully, The Hills (of the sun) could be crossed. ‘Dungloe’ or ‘Port Dunglo’ was the place An Caoran Mór Carnmore, large area of boggy land name for the old centre of in Cloughglass, on An Tor Thorr, the Towering Rock the coast near . Local chieftains, the Sweeneys, Gaoth Dobhair Gweedore, the estuary inlet had a castle (Dún) and market fair (aonach) here, called Oilean bhFaiscaill Brush Island For comments or suggestions on the Dungloe River Walk Dún Gleo (the fort of noise or contention) or sometimes Oilean an Dreolín Wren Island please contact: Ionad Teampall Chroine Dún Na Cloiche Glaise (the fort of grey stone). When the Oilean Dhubh Black Island Email: [email protected] Tel: 074 95 22198 fair was moved to Cloghanlea, the name Dun Gleo, which Oilean Mhín Flat Island became Dunglo, then Dungloe, travelled with it, eventually Oilean Raithnigh Fern Island completely superseding Cloghanlea about 1800. Na Rosa The Rosses, the Headlands

Dungloe www.donegaltravel.net